Elastomer spring especially for rail vehicles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an elastomer spring ( 1 ), particularly for rail vehicles, comprising at least:  
     a core ( 2 ) made of metal or plastic;  
     an outer sleeve ( 3 ) that also consists of metal or plastic;  
     a cushion ( 4 ) made of elastomer material, in the form of a layered spring that is arranged between the core ( 2 ) and the outer sleeve  3 ); as well as  
     a base chamber ( 11 ) that is configured below a core offset (H).  
     The elastomer spring ( 1 ) according to the invention is configured in multiple steps in the vertical direction X, specifically consisting of at least a first spring (I) and a second spring (II), whereby a chamber ( 7 ) is present between two springs, in each instance.

[0001] The invention relates to an elastomer spring, particularly forrail vehicles, comprising at least:

[0002] a core made of metal or plastic (e.g. on the basis ofpolyphenylene ether);

[0003] an outer sleeve that also consists of metal or plastic;

[0004] a cushion made of elastomer material, in the form of a layeredspring (e.g. metal/elastomer laminate) that is arranged between the coreand the outer sleeve; as well as

[0005] a base chamber that is configured below a core offset.

[0006] An elastomer spring of this type, which is described, forexample, in the document DE 295 20 881 U1, is preferably used in railvehicle technology, and will now be explained in greater detail below.

[0007] A significant aspect is the guidance of the wheel set of a railvehicle by means of elastic, play-free elastomer springs, in linearmanner, in the three spatial directions, whereby the elastomer spring isattached between the frame of the rail vehicle and the axle bearing. Inthis connection, the lengthwise and crosswise axes of the vehicle lie inthe radial direction of the guide element, while the vehicle axis runsin the axial direction of the latter.

[0008] The main requirement consists of optimization of the springcharacteristic in the vertical direction, in order to guaranteeprotection against derailment when the vehicle is in the unloaded state,and to nevertheless fulfill the spring requirements when the vehicle isloaded. The desired ratio of the vertical stiffness in the unloadedstate to that in the loaded state is generally approximately 0.2:1 to0.8:1.

[0009] In the case of a conventional elastomer spring, the verticalspring characteristic generally runs in linear manner between theunloaded and the loaded state, in other words the stiffness ratio is 1:1which, in the unloaded state can have the result that there is noguarantee that derailment will not occur. Therefore a compromise has tobe made between the vertical stiffness of the two load states.

[0010] The task of the invention now consists of making available anelastomer spring that fulfills the entire complex of requirementsindicated above.

[0011] This task is accomplished according to the characterizing part ofclaim 1, in that the elastomer spring is configured in multiple steps inthe vertical direction, specifically consisting of at least a firstspring and a second spring, whereby a chamber is present between twosprings, in each instance.

[0012] Practical embodiments of the invention are named in claims 2 to13.

[0013] By means of the configuration of the equalization bores,according to claim 5 or 6, and the use of throttles that can becontrolled or regulated, according to claim 7, defined damping canadditionally be achieved. It is furthermore possible to increase thisdamping in that the enclosed air volumes are replaced with a suitabledamping fluid.

[0014] By means of the active application of compressed air or apressurized fluid to the inside of the spring, it is possible to achieveactive support of the elastomer spring. In this way, level regulation isadditionally possible, as is the adaptation of the load-dependentvertical spring characteristic.

[0015] The invention will now be explained using exemplary embodiments,making reference to the drawings. These show:

[0016]FIG. 1 a two-stage elastomer spring having a cushion of elastomermaterial as well as a system of equalization bores;

[0017]FIG. 2 a two-stage elastomer spring having a cushion in the formof a layered spring as well as a system of equalization bores.

[0018] The elastomer spring 1 according to FIG. 1 consists, in thevertical direction, of a first spring I and a second spring II, each ofwhich comprises a core 2, an outer sleeve 3, and a cushion 3 made ofelastomer material. The cushion generally possesses a slanted shoulderdesign. In this connection, the core and the outer sleeve have conesurfaces 5 and 6, respectively, which correspond with the cushion andadhere to it. Each spring is joined together as a single component,specifically by means of a plug-in groove system 8 and 9, respectively,of the core components and the outer sleeve components. When the corecomponents are joined together, an equalization bore A assuresventilation.

[0019] A chamber 7 is present between the two springs I and II, at adistance L of the vertical clearances of 15 to 45 mm, which chamberextends continuously from the core to the outer sleeve. In addition, theelastomer spring is provided with a base chamber 11, which is formedbelow a core offset H with reference to the outer sleeve bottom, and hasa sealing plate 10 at its bottom.

[0020] In the following, two chamber variants will now be presented:

[0021] The chamber 7 and the base chamber 11 are configured as airchambers, whereby the two equalization bores B and C ensure that theindividual air volumes can balance out. If necessary, the equalizationbore B can be combined with a throttle that can be controlled orregulated.

[0022] The chamber 7 and the base chamber 11 are filled with a dampingfluid, which is glycol, in particular. Here, the equalization bore B iscombined with a throttle that can be controlled or regulated, while theequalization bore C has the function of an overflow channel between thechamber 7 and the base chamber 11, within the core 2 of the spring I.

[0023]FIG. 2 shows an elastomer spring 12, the cushion 13 of which is alayered spring in the form of a metal/elastomer laminate. The metalparts can also be replaced by a corresponding plastic, for example onthe basis of polyphenylene ether.

[0024] The plug-in groove system 14 of the core components is providedwith a glide system 15 here, for example in the form of glide bushings.The core 2 of the spring I has two equalization bores D and F. In thisconnection, the equalization bore D takes over venting of the groove ofthe plug-in groove system when the spring I and II are joined togetherin the case of a chamber 7 and a base chamber 11 filled with air. If thetwo chambers 7 and 11 as well as the groove of the plug-in groove systemare filled with a damping fluid, the equalization bore D has thefunction of an overflow channel.

[0025] The same aspects as those already described within the frameworkof FIG. 1 apply with regard to the equalization bores E and F.

[0026] The core components and sleeve components as well as the layercomponents of the cushion 13 have concave or convex surfaces.

[0027] The core component of the spring II is usually provided with anattachment system 16.

[0028] The principle of a state of two stages as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2can also be applied to a state of three stages or multiple stages,whereby the measures of claims 2 to 13 can be used. In most cases,however, an elastomer spring having two stages is sufficient with regardto the statement of task.

[0029] Even though the measure according to claim 12 is an advantageousconfiguration of the multi-stage elastomer spring, the sealing plate 10can be eliminated, specifically with the formation of a base chamber 11that is then open on the bottom, which does not communicate with thechamber 7. In this regard, reference is made to the document DE 295 20881 U1 that was mentioned initially.

Reference Symbol List

[0030]1 elastomer spring

[0031]2 core

[0032]3 outer sleeve

[0033]4 cushion

[0034]5 cone surfaces of the core

[0035]6 cone surfaces of the outer sleeve

[0036]7 chamber

[0037]8 plug-in groove system of the core

[0038]9 plug-in groove system of the outer sleeve

[0039]10 sealing plate

[0040]11 base chamber

[0041]12 elastomer spring

[0042]13 cushion (layered spring)

[0043]14 plug-in groove system of the core

[0044]15 glide system

[0045]16 attachment system

[0046]17 first spring (bearing)

[0047]18 second spring (bearing)

[0048] X vertical direction

[0049] L distance between the vertical clearances

[0050] A equalization bore

[0051] B equalization bore

[0052] C equalization bore

[0053] D equalization bore

[0054] E equalization bore

[0055] F equalization bore

[0056] H core offset

1. Elastomer spring (1, 12), particularly for rail vehicles, comprisingat least: a core (2) made of metal or plastic; an outer sleeve (3) thatalso consists of metal or plastic; a cushion (4, 13) made of elastomermaterial, in the form of a layered spring that is arranged between thecore (2) and the outer sleeve (3); as well as a base chamber (11) thatis configured below a core offset (H), characterized in that theelastomer spring (1, 12) is configured in multiple steps in the verticaldirection X, specifically consisting of at least a first spring (I) anda second spring (II), whereby a chamber (7) is present between twosprings, in each instance.
 2. Elastomer spring according to claim 1,characterized in that each spring (I, II) is joined together asindividual components, whereby in particular, the chamber (7) betweentwo springs extends continuously from the core (2) to the outer sleeve(3).
 3. Elastomer spring according to claim 2, characterized in thatindividual components are joined together by means of a plug-in groovesystem (8, 9, 14) of the core components and the outer sleevecomponents.
 4. Elastomer spring according to one of claims 1 to 3,characterized in that the distance L between the vertical clearancesbetween the first and the second spring (I, II) is 15 to 45 mm. 5.Elastomer spring according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized inthat the chamber (7) between two springs (I, II) is provided with atleast one equalization bore (A, B, C, D, E, F).
 6. Elastomer springaccording to claim 5, characterized in that the equalization bore (A, B,C, D, E, F) runs within the core (2) and/or the outer sleeve (3). 7.Elastomer spring according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that theequalization bore (B, E) is combined with a throttle that can becontrolled or regulated.
 8. Elastomer spring according to one of claims1 to 7, characterized in that the chamber (7) between two springs (I,II) is configured as an air chamber.
 9. Elastomer spring according toone of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the chamber (7) between twosprings (I, II) is filled with a damping fluid.
 10. Elastomer springaccording to claim 9, characterized in that the damping fluid is amultivalent alcohol, particularly glycol.
 11. Elastomer spring accordingto one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the core (2) and/or theouter sleeve (3) have cone surfaces (5, 6), concave and/or convexsurfaces, which correspond to the cushion (4, 13).
 12. Elastomer springaccording to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that base chamber(11) is provided with a sealing plate (10) on the bottom, whereby inparticular, the base chamber communicates with the chamber (7) betweentwo springs (I, II).
 13. Elastomer spring according to one of claims 3to 12, characterized in that the plug-in groove system (14) of the corecomponents is provided with a glide system (15).